Florida vs. HCC

Deciding between University of Florida and Hillsborough Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Florida
Hillsborough Community College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Gainesville, FL
  • HCC Tampa, FL
  • Setting
  • Florida Midsize City
  • HCC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida 56,311
  • HCC 21,483
  • Type
  • Florida Public 4 Year
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida #74
  • HCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida -
  • HCC -
  • Status
  • Florida Non-profit
  • HCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida
  • HCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida $6,381
  • HCC $2,506
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida $28,659
  • HCC $9,111
  • Room & Board
  • Florida $12,120
  • HCC $12,780
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida $11,936
  • HCC $3,333
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida $10,846
  • HCC $6,797
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida 91%
  • HCC 63%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida 73,557
  • HCC -
  • Admitted
  • Florida 17,804
  • HCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida 24.2%
  • HCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Florida 42.2%
  • HCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida 1400
  • HCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida 31
  • HCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida 3.9
  • HCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida A
  • HCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Exceptional
  • HCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Very High
  • HCC
  • ACT Range
  • Florida 29/33
  • HCC
  • SAT Range
  • Florida 1320/1480
  • HCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Required
  • HCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Mar 1, 2027
  • HCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida 16:1
  • HCC 23:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Education (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida 84%
  • HCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida $62,600
  • HCC $35,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida 68%
  • HCC 34%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida $15,815
  • HCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida $163
  • HCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida 44%
  • HCC 40%
  • % Women
  • Florida 56%
  • HCC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida High
  • HCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Florida No
  • HCC No
  • % White
  • Florida 57%
  • HCC 35%
  • % Asian
  • Florida 8%
  • HCC 3%
  • % Black
  • Florida 6%
  • HCC 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida 21%
  • HCC 26%
  • % Native American
  • Florida 0%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida 1%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida 3%
  • HCC 2%
  • % International
  • Florida 1%
  • HCC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida 3%
  • HCC 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida 73%
  • HCC 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida 19%
  • HCC 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Florida Yes
  • HCC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Florida No
  • HCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Florida Yes
  • HCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Florida Yes
  • HCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Florida Yes
  • HCC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Florida in Gainesville, FL with Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Florida is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (56,311 students vs. 21,483 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Florida is located in Gainesville, FL (Midsize City setting); Hillsborough Community College is in Tampa, FL (Large City setting).
  • University of Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hillsborough Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Florida 16:1; Hillsborough Community College 23:1.

Florida vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida or HCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hillsborough Community College than Florida ($3,333 vs. $11,936).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Florida are 5.2% lower than at Hillsborough Community College ($12,120 vs. $12,780).
  • University of Florida is 154.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $3,875 more per year; $6,381.00 vs. $2,506.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 214.6% higher at Florida than at Hillsborough Community College (about $19,548 more per year; $28,659.00 vs. $9,111.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Florida than at Hillsborough Community College (91% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Florida students is 59.6% larger than aid received by Hillsborough Community College students ($10,846 vs. $6,797).

Florida vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida or HCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between HCC and Florida.

  • Hillsborough Community College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida - Required; HCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Mar 1, 2027.

Florida vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida and HCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from University of Florida earn a median of about $27,000 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,600 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hillsborough Community College graduates have a $6,315 lower median loan debt than Florida graduates ($9,500 vs. $15,815).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Florida graduates ($98 vs. $163).
  • More Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 34%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.